‘Simpsons’ to Launch on FXX With 12-Day Marathon; App Expected to Debut

Cowabunga! To launch the first run of veteran animated series “The Simpsons” on cable in August, FXX intends to start things with a bang: A 12-day marathon of the series’ 552-episode run.

“It will be the longest continuous marathon in the history of television,” said John Landgraf, chief executive of FX Networks, at an upfront presentation held Wednesday in New York. An app is expected to debut in coming weeks and while executives at the presentation suggested the name “Simpsons World” had been bandied about, FX Networks spokesman John Solberg said a name for the digital outlet was “not formalized yet.” The app would be distinct from the FXNow mobile-viewing application already available.

“Think of it as a comprehensive, beautifully curated digital library of all things ‘Simpsons,'” Landgraf said . “I’m absolutely blown away by what I’ve seen. This could well be the best app I have ever seen.”

There’s reason to give Bart, Lisa, Maggie and the rest a big push. Sale of the series to FXX was valued at more than $750 million over the life of the deal – an astronomical price for syndication. The terms of the pact includes making the vast “Simpsons” archive available via video on demand on the FXNow viewing app. The show has never before been available in wide fashion online or on any SVOD venue.

Landgraf said the unit, which comprises FX, FXX and FXM, would raise the number of original series across FX and FXX to 20 from 11. Among the series slated to debut in coming months are “The Strain,” a sci-fi horror series based on work from Guillermo del Toro, author Chuck Hogan and writer-producer Carlton Cuse; “Tyrant,” a drama set in the Middle East supervised by “Homeland” producer Howard Gordon; “The Comedians,” featuring Billy Crystal and Josh Gad: and comedy series for FXX starring Tracy Morgan that will have long-running “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” as its lead-in.

Landgraf touted the recent performance of the second season of “The Americans”on FX and said, “I expect we’ll have a season-three announcement soon.” Executives are still waiting for current runs of comedies “Chozen” and “Legit” to end before making a decision on additional orders for those programs.

Lou LaTorre, president of ad sales for Fox Cable, said his team had just started making outreach on ad opportunities for “The Simpsons,” but indicated interest was strong. The company could seek to align advertisers with thematic runs in “The Simpsons,” he suggested, picking out holidays or appearances by athletes, to help sponsors find a relevant episode or series of episodes alongside which they could make a pitch.

If you don’t remember when “cowabunga” was Bart’s catch phrase, chances are you’ve only come to know the Simpsons during its long, dark night of mediocrity. That’s unfortunate, but the good news is you’ll finally have a chance to see the shows that defined an entire genre.

The app means nothing to me, because, like every other FOX app, Time Warner Cable will never strike a deal that lets their subscribers access the content. I love their logic. Because TWC has their own app for watching TV, they refuse to make deals that lets their subscribers access other networks apps. I swear, the only reason we even get Watch ESPN is because Disney would have just walked away from TWC for good. Other than that, HBO, MAX, and STARZ, I don’t think we get access to anything else.

make sure the app can be downloaded to xbox and ps3..its bad enough I can’t watch anything on the fx app through xbox cause my cable provider doesn’t cover it..so if I can’t watch this or download this app..I will be really angry..huge fan of the simpsons and would love..and I mean love to get this app

This sounds more complicated than it needs to be. The shows will be running in syndication on a cable network, but also available to stream if you have a cable or satellite provider to activate the new Simpsons app? Or is it an FXX app?
What the h?

god, there are either a lot of really young people on here, or really bad memories. he said both, along with “eat my shorts” frequently early on. have you ever watched “the simpsons”? or not in the last 20 years?